A Real Madrid board member has said that the club would prefer David Beckham to leave the club, describing his presence as “a ticking timebomb”.

The Spanish football magazine Don Balon quoted an anonymous board member as asking: “Why would we spend [£16m] over the next two years for a player that we know that coach does not like?”

“Capello doesn’t want him and he cannot continue like this, spending so much time on the bench, because he would lose part of those multi-million publicity contracts. Nor is it good for Real to have a timebomb ticking by having such a world famous player as Beckham on the bench.”

Beckham has started just one league game at the Bernabéu on the opening day of the season and one Champions League tie since then.

Club president Ramon Calderon has constantly reiterated his desire for Beckham to stay, but the club have stalled on opening negotiations with the former England captain.

“Capello prefers a different type of player and everyone at the club would be relieved if Beckham took the decision to leave for America – that way nobody could throw in Calderon’s face that he was the one who got rid of an icon like Beckham,” the unnamed director added.

“We cannot admit it publicly but the best thing now for both parties is for Beckham to leave,” he added.

Real refused to comment on the story, but Beckham’s spokesman last night said: “We are dubious about comments made by an unnamed member of the board. If it is true it goes against everything Capello, Calderon and [sports director Predrag] Mijatovic have been saying to us and to the world’s media.”

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